Colonel Jimmie Kanaya is the face of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of three units of Japanese American veterans in World War II honored with a Congressional Gold Medal.
The 92-year old will be on hand for this weekend’s opening in New Orleans of the National 7 city tour of the Congressional Medal honoring the 442nd, the 100th Battallion and the Military Intelligence Service.
In fact he’ll be at two other ceremonies during the tour which also includes the cities of Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Chicago and Houston
LATEST STORIES
The Colonel is used to all the attention. He’s already been in the Oval Office to receive a special honor on behalf of his unit from President Obama. The whole time he tries to deflect attention to his fallen comrades.
“Those guys that gave it all during the war, they’re the heroes, they’re the ones who should be recognized,” he told the News Tribune.
“I’m just fortunate that I’m still around, and all the guys that are with me, most of them are gone now,” he said.
Read more about Kanaya’s heroism in the News Tribune